A health worker, wearing protective clothing, takes a blood sample from a resident at a makeshift rapid testing center near the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, on March 31, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Italy, the world’s worst hotspot for the new coronavirus after the United States, has reported a decline in the number of its new cases.

Italy’s Civil Protection Agency said on Monday that 4,050 new cases had been registered in the last 24 hours — the lowest increase since March 17 — bringing the total number of infections to 101,739.

Italian officials have been suggesting that the country may be close to the peak of its epidemic, after which new cases will start to consistently drop. Several Italian regions have already been reporting declines in a row.

However, Italy has been registering extraordinarily large fatality figures in recent days. In its Monday update, the Civil Protection Agency reported 812 deaths.

The country has reported 11,591 deaths since the outbreak emerged in its northern regions on February 21, the highest figure anywhere in the world.

Priest Don Marcello gives a blessing to the coffins of deceased people inside the church of San Giuseppe in Seriate, Italy, on March 28, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Meanwhile, and despite the decline in the new infections, the government has decided to extend containment measures until at least Easter, according to Health Minister Roberto Speranza.

Italy has been on lockdown for three weeks in an attempt to contain its coronavirus outbreak, which is Europe’s worst. Nationwide lockdown measures were due to end on Friday.

Coronavirus has now killed over 35,000 worldwide

An AFP tally showed on Monday that the coronavirus has killed 35,905 people worldwide since it emerged late last year in China, with most of the deaths having taken place in Europe.

Citing official figures, AFP reported that the total number of confirmed cases reached more than 740,000 in 183 countries and territories.

China on Monday reported a total of 48 new cases of the COVID-19 disease, with all cases having been imported from abroad, the National Health Commission said Tuesday.

The commission also reported one death.

Mainland China has 81,518 confirmed cases and 3,305 deaths so far.

South Korea reports 125 new cases

South Korea, which has the highest number in Asia after China, recorded 125 new cases, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

The country now has 9,786 confirmed infections.

Japan’s cases exceed 2,000

Japan’s infections exceeded 2,000 cases on Tuesday, according to a Reuters calculation based on ministry data and media reports.

Kyodo News reported that seven more infections had been reported in a center for disabled people in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, on Tuesday.

More cases were confirmed in Ehime, Fukui, Kagawa, and Tokushima prefectures, as well as in a doctor and nurse in Tokyo’s cancer research hospital, according to Kyodo and public broadcaster NHK.

This handout picture, released by Madrid’s regional government, shows the inside view of the unused building at the so-called “Ciudad de la Justicia” in Madrid, Spain, which will be used as a temporary morgue, on March 30, 2020. (Via APF)

Mexico announces health emergency

Mexico declared a health emergency on Monday to stop the fast-spreading coronavirus, including by limiting the number of people who can gather and extending a suspension of non-essential activities.

The number of confirmed cases in the country increased from 993 to 1,094 and the death toll rose by eight to 28.

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced that the health emergency would be in force until April 30, adding that people or companies that did not abide by the rules would face administrative or penal action.

In Germany, cases near 62,000

The number of infections in Germany climbed by 4,615 to 61,913, statistics from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Tuesday.

The death toll also increased by 128 compared with the previous day and reached 583, according to the RKI statistics.

France registers highest death toll since outbreak began

France on Monday said 418 more people had died of the viral disease in hospital, the highest daily tally since the outbreak started in the country.

The new fatalities bring the death toll in France to 3,024. The French death toll includes only the patients who died in hospital and not those who died at home or in nursery homes.

The country has been in lockdown since March 17.

France now has 44,450 confirmed cases so far.

Russia coronavirus cases hit new daily high

Russia on Tuesday also reported an increase of 500 in the number of coronavirus cases, the biggest daily rise in a single day.

The new figure brings the total number of infections in Russia to 2,337.

Eighteen people have died of the virus in Russia so far.

Sample testing devices used in diagnosing the COVID-19 disease are checked on a production line as they are prepared to be included in testing kits for shipment at the SD Biosensor bio-diagnostic company near Cheongju, south of Seoul, South Korea, on March 27, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Dubai imposes first lockdown on historic district

Dubai announced late on Monday that a 24-hour curfew would be imposed on al-Ras district housing the emirate’s famous gold and spice markets for two weeks starting Tuesday as part of efforts to contain the pandemic, marking the United Arab Emirates’ first full lockdown.

The country has reported 611 confirmed cases and five deaths so far.

Kuwait says clearer picture to emerge by June

Kuwait’s Health Minister Basil al-Sabah said on Tuesday that a clearer picture would emerge by early June on the success of the measures taken to contain the pandemic.

Kuwait was the first Arab state in the Persian Gulf to suspend passenger flights and impose a partial curfew. The country has reported 266 infections.

The total number of confirmed cases in the six Persian Gulf Arab states stands at more than 3,700, with 18 deaths.

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